Apparatus for treating steel



July 16, 1935.'- 1.w. P1TTs .APPARATUS FOR TREA'IING STEEL 5 'sheets-sheet 1 Filed March 5, 1929 July 16, 1935. F. w. PITTsv APPARATUS FOR lTREATING STEEL 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIHIIII Nw an i N6 hn voo. oo OO l.. .I 2| O00 kw KN i.

b INVENToR 'n /frcan'c/M 10172 ATTORN E'Yj July 16, 1935. F. w. Pl'rTs APPARATUS FOR TREATVING STEEL Filed March 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEYS July 16, 17935. F. w. PIT-Ts APPARATUS FOR TREATING STEEL Filed March 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY s July v16, 1935. F. w. PlTTsV I APPARATUS FOR 'REATING STEEL Filed March 5, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Fra/eric? /L/ ATTORNEY-5 Patented `Fuly 16, 1935 UNITED STA APPARATUS ron 'rREA'rnvG s'rEEL Frederick W. Pitts, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Michigan Steel Corporation, Detroit, .Mich., a I corporation of New `fersey Application March 5, 1929, Serial No. 344,544

the latter.

While -the invention is capable of many and diversified uses, nevertheless it iinds particular utility in the manufacture of steelsheets of the type used constructing automobile bodies and the like whereinV it isvhighly desirable that the sheets be free from all foreign matter such as stains prior to applying the desired finish thereto.

In the present daymanufacture of steel sheets, the stains and other'foreign matter are removed therefrom by a process commonly known in the trade as wash pickling wherein the sheets are placed in a bath of sulphuric acid solution. This 1 operation has been found objectionable from various standpointsl among which are; first, the comparatively great expense involved in treating each sheet with sulphuric acid solution; second, the labor and time required in handling each sheet separately; andQ third, the comparatively large area of floor space and tanks necessary for the installationv of such a process.

It is therefore one ofthe primary objects of this invention to replace the expensive operation of wash pickling and accompanying apparatus therefor, with a more compact machine which not only automatically operates to thorbughly clean the sheets, but to cool and dry the same as well.

Much of the commercial value and acceptability of the invention is attributed to vthe simplicity of the scrubber and the expeditious manner vin which the same operates to thoroughly clean and dry the sheets, thereby rendering possible materially increased production as well as reducing the cost of manufacture of each sheet.

A further advantageous featureof the present invention resides in the adaptability of the scrubber to a rolling machine, thus permitting the metallicsheets to be moved by the rolling machine directly into the scrubber without additional handling of the sheets.

Other objects and advantages oi' the-present' invention reside in the peculiar construction of the scrubber illustrated and about to be described.

In the drawings:

for the 4sake of clear-ness.

5 Claims.

'I'his invention relates generally to apparatus for treating vsteel and more particularly to a scrubber for cleaning the steel prior to shipping 3 3 of Figure 1.

4 4 of Figurev2.

5 5 of Figure 2.

6 6 of Figure 1.

shafts I9 are journaled in the lower blocks.

Figure 3 is a sectional View taken on the line Figure 4 is a sectional View taken on the line Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on 'the line Referring now to the drawings, it will be noted that there is illustrated a scrubbing machine Ill having a basev I I and having 4a pair of side frames I2 and I3 secured to opposite sides of the base by means of the bolts I4. Each of the side frames I2 and I3 is provided with a pair of vertically extending guideways I5 and I6 respectively arranged in alignment with each other. As shown in Figure 1 each of the guideways receives a pair of bearing blocks I I which in turn form journals for the transversely extending shafts I8 and I 9. The shafts i8 are preferably journaled in the upper bearing blocks I'I .while the Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5 Secured to each of the shafts I8 and I9 are 2 the rolls 20 which are normally yieldably maintained in engagement with each other by means of the coil springs 2|. The latter are arranged within the upper portions of the guideways I5 I and I6 and have the lower ends bearing upon 30 the upper bearing'blocks I1 and the upper ends thereof engaging followers v22 slidably engaging the side walls of the guideways. The tension exerted upon the upper bearing blocks I'I by the springs is adjustable by means of screws 23 3- threadedly engaging the cap members 24 and engaging the followers 22. 'I'lie cap members 24 are secured to the upper ends of the frame members and lfunction to close the upper ends of the guidewaysFIS and I6. Thus it will be 40 noted that the scrubber isv provided with two sets of pressure rolls, one set adjacent the receiving end cf the -machine and designated by the numeral 23 4and the other set adjacent the discharge'end'of the machine and designated-45 by the character 24'. f

As shown in Figure 2' of the drawings, the shafts I9 carrying the lower rolls2II, are rotated by means of a suitable primev mover 25 secured to av support 256 which in turn is secured to the side frame I3. In detail the .motor 25 is connected through suitable reduction gearing '21 to a countershaft 28 which is journaled upon the support 26 and is connecteclto the shafts 4I9 by means of the train of gears 29. Thus from in the headers.

the foregoing it will be apparent that the vlower rolls of each set are power driven and owing to their frictional engagement with the upper rolls, the latter will also be rotated.

For effecting the cleaning operation, provide la pair of upper and lower headers 3@ and Si respectively. As shown in Figure 2 of the drawings the headers extend between the side frames l2 and i3 intermediate the two sets of pressure rolls and are secured to the side frames upon opposite sides of the path of travel of the sheets,`l

by means of the bolts 32. The headersy are preferably cast in one piece and are provided withv substantially fiat base portions 33 having outi wardly projecting hollow portions 33 intermediate the side edges and extending substantially the full length of the base portions. The hollow portions 3d are adapted to contain the cleaning fluid and communicate at one end with the supply pipes 35 and at the opposite end with the return pipes 36. For ejecting the cleaning fluid from the hollow portions aforesaid upon the sheets passing therebetween, the headers are provided with longitudinal spaced passages 3l extending from the hollow portions and through the base portions 33. The base portions 33 of the headers are provided at the ends thereof with inwardly projecting tapered'anges 38 cooperating with each other to form a tapered passage 33. This passage is arranged in direct alignment with the path of travel of the sheets and functions to guide the same from one :set of the rolls 2@ to the other set. The passage 3@ is preferably tapered toward the discharge set of rolls 2li so as to accurately guide the sheets into engagement therewith. Thus a dual func-u tion is attributed to the headers as the latter in addition to ejecting a cleaning fluid upon the sheets, accurately guide the latter during their travel through the machine.

For guiding the sheets into engagement with the iirst set of pressure rolls 2t a suitable table or conveyor d0 is provided adjacent the receiv-l ing end of the scrubber. This conveyor comprises a pair of side frame members di and 'a plurality of spaced shafts dit? extending trans versely of the frame members and having the opposite ends thereof journaled within the frame members di. Mounted upon the shafts 42 in spaced relation to each other are a-plurality of disks or wheels 43 -for supporting the metallic sheets in alignment with the path of travel of thelatter through the presser rolls.

'Ihe operation of the machine up to this point is as follows: A metallic sheet is placed upon the table 40 and moved between the rst set of presser rolls 23'. The latter immediately grip the sheet and move the same into the passage 3S formed by the headers 30 and 3| and. during its travel through vthis passage, it is subjected to a bath of cleaning fluid, such for example as stearn'discharged through the ports 3l formed As shown in Figure l the sheets are compelled to travel between the headers 30 and 3i and as a consequence steam or .the like will be discharged through the ports 31 upon opposite sides of the sheets. After the cleaning operation just described, the sheet is discharged from .the passage 39 between the second set of presser rolls 24 which operate to grip the sheet and discharge the same upon a conveyor 42 to be more fully hereinafter described. vBoth sets of rolls 20 are preferably although not necessarily, formed of rubber or some similar material so that these rolls, in addition to conacceder veying the sheets through the machine also function to remove or in effect, wipe any mois ture from the sheets. l

Din the event that steam is used to clean the plates it is desirable to provide some means for exhausting the steam immediately after the same is discharged from the headers so as to prevent the excess steam from condensing upon the sheets. This is accomplished in the present instance by extending a hood 43 over the upper header 3B and connecting the hood to a suitable .exhaust fan (not shown), through the medium of a conduit ll.

The conveyor t2 heretofore referred to for moving the sheets away from the scrubber may be of any suitable construction but is herein shown as comprising a plurality of spaced shafts 45 journaled in suitable bearings 46 which in turn are secured to the spaced blocks 41 'extending upwardly lfrom the frame member 48. Each of the shafts 45 are provided with a plurality of spaced sprocket wheels 49 and are connected to each other by means of chains 50 extending around the sprockets and forming a moving table for supporting and conveying the sheets to their destination. As shown particularly in Figures 1 and 2, the conveyor is actuated by a drive shaft 5I extending transversely of the scrubber adjacent the discharge end of the same and journaled in bearings 52 formed upon extensions 53 of the side frames l2 and i3. The shaft 5l, like the shafts- 45, is provided with a series of sprocket wheels arranged in alignment with the sprockets 49 and connected-to the latter by means of the chains 5u. Journaled upon one end of the shaft 5I is a sprocket wheel 5&5 connected through the medium of a chain Siti' to a sprocket wheel 5l secured to one end of the shaft i9 in the second set of presser rolls 2t'. Thus it will be apparent that rotation is imparted to the shaft 5I by the prime mover 25.

While the second set 2t' of presser rollsare designed to wipe the condensate from the sheets as the latter pass therethrough, nevertheless ad ditional apparatus is provided for thoroughly drying and cooling the sheets so that the same will not sweat when stacked for shipment. This apparatus comprises an air drier indicated generally by the character 56 and operable to direct a current of air against opposite sides of the sheet as the latter is conveyed from the presser rolls 24 to vtheir destination. The drier includes a suitable blower (not shown) for forcing air into the conduit 5l' which, as shown in Figure 1, is connected to upper and lower headers 58 and 59 respectively, by means of the conduits (itl.l The headers l0 and 59 are supported above and below the path of travel of the sheets by means of a suitable frame construction 6I and are provided with a plurality of lateral extensions 62 having longitudinally extending slotsSS .therein for directing the air toward opposite sides of the sheets veyor.

In Figure 1 of the drawings the scrubber lll is shown in combination with a. cold rolling machine `duringmovement oI-the latter along the con- 64. `This machine is of conventional design and,`

pass for the sheets. The scrubber in this event is secured to the frame 65 of the rolling machine in such a manner that the pass between the two sets of presser rolls 20 will be in direct alignment with the pass between the rolls E5 so that upon passing a sheet through the rolls 66, the same will be moved by the latter along the conveyor 40 into direct engagement with the first set 23 of presser rolls 20. 'I'he distance between the latter presser l0 rolls and the rolls 66 is substantially equal to the length of the sheets to be treated so that it is not necessary to impart rotation to the conveyor 40. With an arrangement of this latter character, it is essential, in order to eliminate undue Wearing of the presser rolls 20 to accurately synchronize thespeed of the latter to the speed of the rolls 66. This is accomplished by varying the speed of the prime mover 25, which in the present instance is a variable speed electric motor. Thus from the above it will be apparent that the sembber is readily adapted for use with a cold rolling machine and is capable of operation therewith without the assistance of additional labor as the rolling machine in addition to rolling the sheets, feeds the same directly into the scrubber.

Thus from the foregoing it will be noted that the present invention offers the possibility of eliminating the wash pickling operation and accompanying mechanism heretofore considered necessary in the manufacture of metallic sheets of the character set forth and renders possible, replacing this operation and apparatus therefor, with a more compact and simpler machine ca.- pable of not only thoroughly cleaning the sheets but to dry the same as well. It will further be noted that the herein described machine is thoroughly automatic in operation and as a consequence reduces theamount of labor to a minimum.

WIhat I claim as my invention is:

1. In a machine for cleaning metallic sheets, the combination of a pair of presser rolls for advancing the sheets, a pair of headers operable to eject a cleaning fluid upon opposite sides of the sheets during their travel through the machine, and a second pair of presser rolls cooperating with the rolls aforesaid to move the sheets through the machine-and further operable to remove the cleaning fluid from the sheets, said headers having their ends provided with inwardly projecting tapered iianges engaging and cooperating to space the headers whereby to dene a. passage for guiding the sheets into engagement with the second pairof rolls, said passage contracting toward the discharge end thereof.

2. In amachine for cleaning metallic sheets, the combination of a frame, spaced pairs of presser rolls mounted upon the frame for conveying the sheets through the machine, spaced headers arranged between said spaced pairs of rolls upon opposite sides of the path of travel of the sheets for ejecting a cleaning fluid thereon, said headers having substantially iiat inner faces and having cooperating tapering portions for spacing the headers apart to provide a tapered passage for accurately guiding the sheets from one pair of rolls to the other.

3. In a machine for cleaning metallic sheets, the combination of a frame, spaced pairs of presser rolls mounted upon said frame for conveying the sheets through the machine, and means upon said frame between the spaced pairs of rolls aforesaid for ejecting a cleaning fluid upon opposite sides of said sheets, said means including headers arranged upon opposite sides of the path of travel oi' the sheets and adjacent each of said pairs of rolls and cooperating to' form a passage for accurately guiding the sheets from one pair of rolls to the other, said headers having ilat base portions provided with reenforcing ribs at the outer faces thereof and provided with at surfaces at the inner faces thereof.

4. In an apparatus for treating metallic sheets, a traction unit adapted to be arranged adjacent to and in communication with a rolling machine for receiving the sheets and applying traction thereto before discharge from the latter, spaced headers arranged upon opposite sides of the path of travel of the sheets and in juxtaposition to said traction unit for ejecting cleaning fluid upon the sheets, said headers having substantially flat inner faces fashioned with apertures for ejecting said cleaning fluid and having cooperating tapering portions for spacing the headers apart to provide a tapered passage for guiding the sheets, a second traction unit arranged adjacent to the discharge end of said headers and operable to remove the cleaning iluid from the sheets, and means for synchronizing the speed of said traction units with the speed of the rolls of the rolling machine.

5. In an apparatus for treating metallic sheets, I

a. combined scrubber and traction unit adapted to be arranged adjacent to and in communication with a rolling machine for receiving the sheets and applying traction thereto before discharge from the latter, said scrubber and traction unit including yieldable power actuated rolls for engaging, cleaning and advancing the sheets, a pair of headers arranged upon opposite sides of the path of travel of the sheets and adjacent tosaid scrubber and traction unit for ejecting cleaning uid upon the sheets, said headers having substantially flat inner faces provided with means for ejecting said cleaning fluid and having cooperating tapering portions for spacing the headers apart to provide a tapered passage for guiding the sheets, a second scrubber and traction unit arranged adjacent to the discharge end of said headers and operable to remove the cleaning fluid from the sheets, and a variable speed drive for said scrubber and traction units whereby the speed of the same may be synchronized with the speed of the rolls of the rolling machine.

FREDERICK W. PITTS. 

